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梅格几乎恢复了愉快的心情，她拈出几支绿蕨和玫瑰留给自己，随即将其余的分成几把精美的花束，分给朋友们点缀在胸前、头发和衣裙上。她做得既愉快又得体，大姐卡莱拉不禁称她为"她所见到的最甜美的小东西"，众人也十分欣赏她的小心意。这一善举把她的沮丧心情一驱而散。其他人都跑到莫法特太太跟前展览去了，她独个儿把几支绿蕨插在自己的鬈发上，又把几朵玫瑰在裙子上别好，这时裙子在她心目中变得没有那么难看了，临镜一照，看到了一张喜气洋洋双目明亮的脸孔。 She enjoyed herself very much that evening; everyone was very kind, and she had three compliments. Annie made her sing, and someone said she had a remarkably fine voice; Major Lincoln asked who the "fresh little girl, with the beautiful eyes" was; and Mr. Moffat insisted on paying special attention to her during the evening. So, altogether, she had a very nice time, till she overheard a bit of a conversation, which disturbed her extremely. She was sitting just inside the conservatory, waiting for someone to bring her an ice, when she heard a voice ask, on the other side of the flowery wall: 'How old is he?' 'Sixteen or seventeen, I should say,' replied another voice. 那天晚上她尽兴起舞，玩得十分开心；大家都非常友善，她还被人奉承了三次。安妮让她唱歌，有人称赞她声音十分甜美。林肯少校问"那位水灵灵的美目小姑娘"是谁，莫法特先生坚持要和她跳舞，因为她"不躲懒、舞步轻快有力"，他很有风度地说。这一切都使她的心情十分愉快，不料，她后来不经意听到了几句闲话，情绪顿时一落千丈。那时她正坐在温室里面，等舞伴给她带冰块过来，突然听到花墙的另一面传来一个声音问道--“她有多大？"“十六七岁吧，我想，"另一个声音答道。 'It would be a grand thing for one of those girls, wouldn't it? Sallie says they are very intimate now, and the old man quite dotes on them.' 'Mrs. M. has made her plans, I dare say, and will play her cards well, early as it is. The girl evidently doesn't think of it yet,' said Mrs. Moffat. " 这将对那些姑娘们的其中一个大有好处，你说是吧？莎莉说他们现在关系很密切，老人挺宠爱他们。"“马奇太太早有计划，我敢说，而且一定马到功成，虽然这事早了一点，那姑娘显然还没有往这方面想过，"莫法特太太说。 'She told that fib about her mamma as if she did know, and coloured up when the flowers came quite prettily. Poor thing! she'd be so nice if she was only got up in style. Do you think she'd be offended if we offered to lend her a dress for Thursday?' asked another voice. “她刚才撒了个小谎，好像真的知道纸条是她妈妈写的；鲜花送进来时还飞红了脸。可怜的人！如果她打扮得时髦一点，一定漂亮极了。你说如果我们提出借条裙子给她星期四穿，她会生气吗？"另一个声音问。 'She's proud, but I don't believe she'd mind, for that dowdy tarlatan is all she has got. She may tear it tonight, and that will be a good excuse for offering a decent one.' 'We'll see. I shall ask young Laurence, as a compliment to her, and we'll have fun about it afterwards.' " 她是有点傲气，但我不相信她会介意，因为那条邋遢的塔拉丹就是她的一切。她大可今天晚上把它撕破，那就有借口给她送条体面的了。"“走着瞧吧。我要特意为她邀请小劳伦斯，那我就有好戏看了。" 
这时梅格的舞伴走回来，看到她脸红耳赤，情绪相当激动。她确实是个傲气的姑娘，也幸亏如此，她才忍住了没有发作，虽然她对刚才听到的闲话感到又羞又气、十分厌恶；因为无论她多么天真无邪，也不至于不明白这种闲话的意思。这些话挥之不去，一直在她耳边纠缠：什么"马奇太太早有计划"，"撒了个小谎"，"邋遢的塔拉丹"，等等。她真想大哭一场，冲回家去倾诉苦恼，寻求忠告。无奈这是不可能的事，她只得强装笑脸。由于心情激动，她一点也没有露出破绽，没有人想象得出她心里正在翻江倒海。 She was very glad when it was all over, and she was quiet in her bed, where she could think and wonder and fume till her head ached, and her hot cheeks were cooled by a few natural tears. Those foolish, yet well-meant words had opened a new world to Meg, and much disturbed the peace of the old one, in which, till now, she had lived as happily as a child. Her innocent friendship with Laurie was spoilt by the silly speeches she had overheard; her faith in her mother was a little shaken by the worldly plans attributed to her by Mrs. Moffat, who judged others by herself; and the sensible resolution to be contented with the simple wardrobe which suited a poor man's daughter was weakened by the unnecessary pity of girls who thought a shabby dress one of the greatest calamities under heaven. 终于盼到人散灯灭，她静静躺在床上，千思百想，愤愤不平，一直弄得脑袋生痛，又洒下几滴清泪，凉丝丝地落在烧得赤热的脸颊上。那些没有恶意的无聊话为梅格开辟了一个新天地，把她一直以来孩子般生活着的纯真、平静的旧天地搅得涟漪阵阵。她和劳里天真无邪的友谊被无意听来的废话蒙上了一层阴影；她对妈妈的信心也因以小人之心度人的莫法特太太"早有计划"几个字而产生了一点动摇；她原以为自己是穷人家的女儿，衣着简朴乃是无可非议的事情，所以一向知足，岂料这帮姑娘看到旧裙子就如同看到普天之下最大的灾难一样，滥发同情之心，她不禁也对自己的信念产生了一丝怀疑。 Poor Meg had a restless night, and got up heavy-eyed, unhappy, half resentful towards her friends, and half ashamed of herself for not speaking out frankly and setting everything right. Everybody dawdled that morning, and it was noon before the girls found energy enough even to take up their worsted work. Something in the manner of her friends struck Meg at once; they treated her with more respect, she thought, took quite a tender interest in what she said, and looked at her with eyes that plainly betrayed curiosity. All this surprised and flattered her, though she did not understand it till Miss Belle looked up from her writing and said, with a sentimental air: 可怜的梅格一夜无眠，起床时眼皮沉重，心情极坏。她既怨自己的朋友无事生非，又愧自己不敢坦诚说出真相，以正视听。那天早上姑娘们全都慵慵懒懒，直到中午时分才提起劲头做毛线活。梅格马上意识到她的朋友们神色异常；她们待她更加敬重，对她的言谈十分关注，并且用十分好奇的眼光看着她。这一切令她既惊奇又得意，只是丈二和尚摸不着头脑。最后，贝儿把头从书本里抬起来，嗲声嗲气地说-- 'Daisy, dear, I've sent an invitation to your friend, Mr. Laurence, for Thursday. We should like to know him, and it's only a proper compliment to you.' Meg coloured, but a mischievous fancy to tease the girls made her reply, demurely: 'You are very kind, but I'm afraid he won't come.' 'Why not, cherie?' asked Miss Belle. “黛茜，亲爱的，我给你的朋友劳伦斯先生送了一份请帖，请他星期四过来。我们也想认识认识他，这可是特意为你而请的哟。"梅格红了脸，但她突然想捉弄一下这些姑娘们，于是装作一本正经地回答："你们的心意我领了，只是我恐怕他不会来。"“为什么，ｃｈéｒｉｅ？"贝儿小姐问。 'He's too old.' 'My child, what do you mean? What is his age, I beg to know!' cried Miss Clara. 'Nearly seventy, I believe,' answered Meg, counting stitches to hide the merriment in her eyes. 'You sly creature! Of course we meant the young man,' exclaimed Miss Belle, laughing. " 他太老了。"“我的孩子，你说什么？他究竟有多大年纪？"卡莱拉小姐嚷道。"差不多七十吧，我想，"梅格答道，假装数数打了多少针，拼命忍住笑。"你这狡猾的家伙！我们指的当然是年青的那位，"贝儿小姐笑了，喊道。 
“哪里有什么年青人！劳里只是个小男孩。"姑娘们听到梅格这样形容自己的所谓"情人"，不禁互相使了古怪的眼色，梅格见状也笑了。 'About your age,' Nan said. 'Nearer my sister Jo's; I am seventeen in August,' returned Meg, tossing her head. 'It's very nice of him to send you flowers, isn't it?' said Annie looking wise about nothing. " 和你年纪相仿，"南妮说。"和我妹妹乔差不多年纪，我八月份就十七岁了，"梅格把头一仰，答道。"他真棒，给你送鲜花，对吧？"不识趣的安妮还想试探下去。 'Yes, he often does to all of us, for their house is full and we are so fond of them. My mother and old Mr. Laurence are friends, you know, so it is quite natural that we children should play together'; and Meg hoped they would say no more. " 不错，他经常这样做，送给我们全家人，因为他们家里多的是，而我们又这么喜欢鲜花。我妈妈和劳伦斯是朋友，你们知道，两家孩子在一起玩是相当自然的事情。"梅格希望她们能够就此住口。 'It's evident Daisy isn't out yet,' said Miss Clara to Belle, with a nod." 显然黛茜还没有参加过社交，"卡莱拉小姐朝贝儿点点头说。 'Quite a pastoral state of innocence all round,' returned Miss Belle, with a shrug. " 是天真无邪得可以，"贝儿小姐耸耸肩说道。 
我准备出门给我家姑娘们买点东西；各位小姐要我捎点什么吗？"穿着一身镶边丝绸裙子的莫法特太太像头大笨象一样缓缓走进屋来，问道。 'No, thank you, ma'am,' replied Sallie. 'I've got my new pink silk for Thursday, and don't want a thing.' 'Nor I--' began Meg, but stopped, because it occurred to her that she did want several things, and could not have them. " 不用费心了，夫人，"莎莉回答，"我星期四已经有一条粉红色的新丝绸裙子，不想要什么了。"“我也不--"梅格话到嘴边又缩了回去，因为她突然想到自己确实想要几样东西，但是却得不到。 'What shall you wear?' asked Sallie. 'My old white one again, if I can mend it fit to be seen; it got sadly torn last night,' said Meg, trying to speak quite easily, but feeling very uncomfortable. " 你那天穿什么？"莎莉问。"还是那条白色的旧裙子，要是我能把它补得能见人的话，昨晚可惜给撕破了。"梅格想尽量讲得自然一点，但却感到很不自在。 'Why don't you send home for another?' said Sallie, who was not an observing young lady. 'I haven't got any other.' It cost Meg an effort to say that, but Sallie did not see it, and exclaimed, in amiable surprise: 'Only that? How funny--' She did not finish her speech, for Belle shook her head at her, and broke in, saying kindly: " 为什么不捎信回家再要一条？"不善察颜观色的莎莉问。"我只有这一条，"梅格好不容易才说出这话。但莎莉仍然没有明白过来，她友好地惊叫起来："只有那么一条？真好笑--"她的话只说了半截，因为贝儿赶紧朝她摇头，插进来友善地说-- 'Not at all; where is the use of having a lot of dresses when she isn't out? There's no need of sending home, Daisy, even if you had a dozen, for I've got a sweet blue silk laid away, which I've outgrown, and you shall wear it to please me, won't you, dear?' 'You are very kind, but I don't mind my old dress, if you don't; it does well enough for a little girl like me,' said Meg. “这并没有什么好笑；她又不出去社交，要这么多衣服有什么用？即使你有一打，黛茜，也不必往家里要。我有一条漂亮的蓝色真丝裙子，我穿着嫌小了些，白白搁在一边，倒不如你来穿上，遂遂我的心意，好吗，亲爱的？"“谢谢你的好意，但如果你们不在意，我倒不在乎穿我的旧裙子，像我这样的小姑娘这样穿挺合适，"梅格说。
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